Natalie Dessay captivates live in enchanting serenade

THE SONGBIRD: Natalie Dessay was born in Lyon in 1965. In her youth, she studied ballet and then acting, but discovered her singing voice at age 20 and won a series of competitions and made several high profile debuts. With her charismatic stage presence, natural musicianship, and extremely high vocal extension, she became a world-wide star with performances at major opera venues and dozens of commercial recordings and videos. Dessay retired from singing opera in 2013 and shifted focus to work in theatre and recital, where she has performed classical art songs, jazz, and pop chansons.

THE MUSIC: Massenet referred to "Cherubin" as a "comédie chantée." It was first performed in Monte-Carlo in 1905, with Mary Garden in the title role, and is rarely revived today. The story builds on Beaumarchais' "Figaro" plays, with the action taking place soon after "The Marriage of Figaro." It is a light farcical romance during festivities celebrating Cherubin's first military commission. As with Mozart, Cherubin is sung by a lyric mezzo-soprano, and there are two prominent soprano roles: Nina, the Countess's pretty maid, and a glamorous dancer known as L'Ensoleillad. Neither role is written for a coloratura soprano, but the music for L'Ensoleillad -- composed for the beautiful Lina Cavalieri -- has a high tessitura and works well with an alluring, charismatic lyric-coloratura. At the end of the opera, she sings its best known aria, the beguiling serenade "Vive amour qui reve" (Long live love that dreams) as she exits.